Hero Fund

Robert Arceci Memorial Fund

Dr. Robert Arceci was a compassionate caregiver and brilliant researcher. Donations to this fund support a unique award that reflects Dr. Arceci’s values, including international collaboration, innovation, and the next generation of scientists. One U.S. and one international researcher each year will be funded to do truly outside-the-box research.

2018

$2,152

Funds Raised in 2018

$65,824

Total Funds Raised

Since 2015

Dr. Robert Arceci, a member of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation board of directors and chair of our Scientific Advisory Committee, was killed by a hit and run driver while on his way to work at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Most people feel that when it’s their time, they want to go doing something they love. For Bob, he was riding the motorcycle he loved, to the work he loved.

It’s hard to describe the hole Bob’s passing has left in the childhood cancer world. His accomplishments were too numerous to mention, but man, were they impressive. He treated countless children; was an international authority in many areas of pediatric cancer research; he developed groundbreaking documentaries to educate the public about the realities of childhood cancers; was the editor of the only international medical journal devoted to childhood cancer research, “Pediatric Blood & Cancer”; and more recently helped start a new molecular research institute at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He served on the board or scientific committees of several childhood cancer organizations, chaired research meetings and was never afraid to embrace bold ideas or to say “yes” to things that intimidated others. He had seen worse every day at work.

In fact, Bob was fearless. Just last week he shared that one of his greatest concerns is the overly-cautious nature of many in the research world who are afraid to take risks. Bob was typically passionate, saying, “Research by definition is a risk — we won’t cure cancer without it!” He later implored, “How can a person meet these kids and not be willing to do everything in their power to help them?”

Bob’s life could have gone differently. He was a high school All-American in three sports and was the first in his family to go to college. As a young man, however, he didn’t have a grand plan for his life. A teacher filled out his college applications, and when he accepted an invitation to attend a campus lecture about a specific gland in sharks, he was turned on to science and a professor urged him to go to medical school. His life story is one of a man who kept saying “yes” to interesting ideas when the easier path would have been to say “no.”

All of us who knew Bob were accustomed to receiving 11 p.m., 2 a.m., or 5 a.m. emails. We’d urge him to rest so he could be fresh for morning rounds. There was no need; Bob was always ready. He lived to help his young patients and thrived on discovery. He was devoted to his wife and family and his other great passions — music and his motorcycle — but curing children was his life's purpose.
Bob didn’t rest on his laurels, although he’ll surely be laid to rest upon them, and now the rest of us must continue the brilliant work that so inspired him and humbled us all.

Robert Arceci Memorial Fund Highlights & Happenings

A Lion in the House

Dr. Arceci collaborated to make the 2006 award-winning documentary, Lion in the House. The film highlights the stories of families and researchers affected by choices that cancer forces upon all those involved.

Your Support Means So Much

These friends and family members helped us raise funds for childhood cancer research in honor of Dr. Arceci! See the 2015-2017 list.

Changing the Game

Dr. Arceci spoke of thinking outside the box when it came to research. The Robert J. Arceci Innovation Award was created in 2016 to support this idea. Learn more and meet the first recipient here.

Where does the money go?

Donations given to the Robert Arceci Memorial Fund go directly to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund lifesaving childhood cancer research around the world. The Foundation is guided by a Scientific Advisory Committee, comprised of leading experts in the childhood cancer community, to ensure that every dollar makes the greatest impact for kids with cancer.

Who's involved

These people make us smile - they’re the doers and money-raisers on behalf of the Robert Arceci Memorial Fund. They’re shaving their heads, hosting events, starting fundraisers and more to make childhood cancer research possible.

Get involved your own way:

Start your own St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event to raise money on behalf of our Hero Fund! You’ll be paired with a staff
member who will walk you through every step of the process, and you’ll have fun knowing you’re doing a great thing for kids with cancer.

Register to shave your head and raise money for our Hero Fund at any
St. Baldrick’s event happening around the world! Not finding an event near you? Register as a virtual shavee and shave your head anytime, anywhere.

Head-shaving not your thing?
You can start a fundraiser to raise money for our Hero Fund with
St. Baldrick’s in a way that interests you! Like biking? Bike a marathon.
Like baking? Start a cookie baking fundraiser… You get the picture.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation1333 South Mayflower Avenue, Suite 400Monrovia, CA 91016 USA(888) 899‑2253·sbinfo@stbaldricks.orgThe St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 20-1173824.
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